Innovation and Science

INNOVATION AND SCIENCE

Illumitex has mastered the process of both efficient photon generation and spectrum design in order to achieve better plant growth. Our fixtures are offered in a variety of beam angles and spectra specific to your application. Illumitex’s patented technology, maximizes light extraction from the chip into a light beam targeting the dimensions of the growing space. This creates an unsurpassed, uniform intensity, and color at the plant canopy surface. Our Lambertian fixtures provide wide angle photon emission for compound array lighting across a vast growing space or in shallow racking systems where side-canopy penetration of light is paramount.

Our Spectra

Every grow operation is different. Here at Illumitex, we have developed several spectra to choose from and offer supplemental lighting wavelengths for specific algorithms. Our spectra are designed in-house from extensive growing trials with a variety of crops, conditions and developmental-stage considerations.

X6 Spectrum

Best for Indoor Sole-Source Lighting

This enhanced full spectrum produces the fastest germination for plant species grown indoors under artificial lighting. The spectrum most closely mimics the sun and can meet the needs of both high and low DLI crops.

F3 Spectrum

Best for Germination to Flowering in Greenhouses

This spectrum produces the fastest germination for plant species whose germination requires light. It also gives the best flowering results among all Surexi™ spectra. Recommended for use in germination chambers and for flower production.

F1 Spectrum

General Purpose

The F1 spectrum is suitable for a variety of plant species throughout their growth cycle. It contains a high proportion of red light, which spurs photosynthesis during the vegetative growth stage and facilitates the flowering stage. It has the highest photon yield efficacy of all Surexi™ spectra and is recommended for applications with a tight electrical energy budget

The Importance of DLI

The Daily Light Integral (DLI) was developed by scientists to provide a measure of cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) received by plants over the course of the day. DLI integrates light intensity in micro-mols per square meter per second (µmol/sq m-sec) and totals this over a 24-hour period. The total daily integral is expressed as mols per square meter per day (mols/sq m-day). The concept is similar to totaling daily rainfall measured in inches per day.

Just as a rain gauge collects the total rain in a particular location over a period time, DLI measures the total amount of PAR received in a day.

Growers can use light meters to measure the number of light photons that accumulate in a square meter over a 24-hour period

This is especially useful for Greenhouse growers because it influences plant growth, development, yield and quality. These growers who routinely monitor and record the DLI received by their crops can easily determine when they need supplemental LED lighting.

Total daily light requirements vary considerably between different plant species and each species should be researched carefully.

WHat is ppfd?

PPFD is a term thrown around a lot in horticulture and horticulture studies, but what exactly is PPFD and why should we care about it? More specifically, why do we use it when describing light output in horticulture lighting applications?

First of all, let’s break down PPFD. PPFD stands for photosynthetic photon flux density and it’s given in units of µmol photons per meter squared second. The reason we don’t use units such as lumens, lux, candelas, or illuminance is because these are based on photometry which is a function of the sensitivity of the human eye to radiant energy.

Below you can see a chart that outlines radiant energy. Radiant energy can also be defined as particles that are acting at different wavelengths, or electrochemical radiation and photons. Humans, because of the photoreceptors in our eyes, can perceive radiant energy

Below you can see a chart that outlines radiant energy. Radiant energy can also be defined as

particles that are acting at different wavelengths, or electrochemical radiation and photons. Humans, because of the photoreceptors in our eyes, can perceive radiant energy between 400-700 nanometers (nm), with increased sensitivity toward the middle of the range. Other organisms, namely plants, perceive radiant energy at different wavelengths. In particular, plants utilize radiant energy for photosynthesis. They do so by using certain energy particles or photons to drive up the energy state of these plant pigments causing them to donate electrons and begin the process of photosynthesis. Other plant chemicals act as photoreceptors that end up resulting in a variety of biological responses.

Because plants utilize photons on an individual level in photosynthesis, and because it’s between 400-700nm, referred to as the photosynthetic active radiation range, it’s best to quantify the true number of photons that are being emitted by the light. For this reason, we use PPFD when describing light in horticulture applications.

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